Who can blame them? Big money managers are pushing stocks up and down on a whim without regard for the underlying companies’ fundamentals. Exxon Mobil, one of the world’s biggest companies, can move 10% for no reason. Financials like Goldman Sachs, Prudential or Hartford Financial drop whether there’s bad news or not.

It is this total disconnect between the market and basic investing principles that has made it hard for the little guy to trust stocks, Cramer said. To them, it looks like the big money is manipulating the action.

Cramer blames lack of regulation. The Securities and Exchange Commission under the chairmanship of Christopher Cox has done away with virtually any and all regulation that democratized the market and leveled the playing field. Only a complete reversal will restore trust.

“You do have every reason to distrust everything this market throws at you,” Cramer told viewers.

But that doesn’t mean there are no opportunities to make money. Stick with those fundamentals. Bank with competent CEOs. Look for safe dividends. You’ll find these stocks mentioned on Mad Money all the time. You may not be able to escape the wild market swings, but a stock that puts money in your pocket?